Cursed Hearts. Amy Blankenship

long lost brother and he will warn her of the guardians’ deception. But we must take our time and be careful or we will put her in danger. If they think she is going to betray them… then they will not awaken her power. Instead, they will turn on her.”

      Jealousy twisted Tama’s voice as he felt the pull from the minds of the demons around them, ‘They cannot keep her.’

      â€œNo,” Hyakuhei smiled knowing an even deeper plan, “But first… we will let them think that they can.”

      When Tama frowned and looked back up at him, Hyakuhei had vanished. Using his telepathy to communicate he asked, “Are you going to see her?” his voice was wistful and full of melancholy. He wanted to see his sister but knew he had to wait on Hyakuhei to make sure it was safe.

      â€œShhh,” Hyakuhei’s whisper was haunted as he severed the connection between him and Tama. Another benefit to being a shade was teleportation. He materialized within the living room facing the picture that held both her and Tama. His attention slowly turned toward the stairs.

      Refusing to teleport, he forced himself to take every ounce of pain the delay was causing him as he walked up the stairs and leaned against the open door frame as she came into sight. He had known seeing her would hurt and he savored every moment of it. Her suitcase was open on the bed and she was pacing back and forth, hanging clothes up in the walk-in closet.

      She was the only one in the world that had the ability to simply take his breath away without even trying. Her auburn hair was in long layers with loose bouncy curls… the body of a goddess… his priestess. He watched as she slowed then stopped next to the bed, seemingly lost in thought. She crawled up on the mattress and curled up into a ball, hugging one of the pillows to her chest.

      â€œIt’s so quiet here Momma… Papa. I wish Tama would come home. Then maybe the silence wouldn’t be so deafening,” Kyoko sighed as she lay sideways on the bed not even bothering to crawl under the covers. Blinking a couple of times she felt exhaustion claim her.

      Hyakuhei sat down on the bed beside her, watching her breathe. ‘It won’t be long Kyoko… you will get your wish. You will never be lonely again.’ Using a moment’s energy, his body shimmered into existence as he took the cover from the bottom of the bed. He slowly slid it up and over her body then leaned down and gently kissed her temple before vanishing.

      *****

      â€œHe’ll kill us all if there isn’t any pizza left!” Kamui had a tight grip on one end of the pizza box while Shinbe and Kotaro had a death hold on the other end. Kamui let go as soon as the door opened then laughed when Shinbe and Kotaro slowly set the box down in front of Toya’s chair like they had been protecting it for him.

      When Toya didn’t go off on them as he normally did, Kyou glanced up from his laptop and watched Toya take a seat at the table… the wrong seat. He cocked a dark eyebrow when Shinbe and Kotaro shrugged and opened Toya’s pizza box. They started devouring it. Toya didn’t even look at them.

      â€œToya,” Kyou prompted, going on high alert when Toya didn’t acknowledge him.

      Flipping the laptop closed, he grasped Toya’s shoulder and started to shake him but Toya flinched, looking at him as if coming out of shock. Kyou silently wondered if Toya had run across another demon that was lurking near the house. He spread his senses out invading his brother's aura but felt no hint of contact with demons… instead he found something more disturbing.

      â€œHas something happened?” Kyou demanded hearing the rapid thumping of Toya’s blood just under his skin.

      Toya nodded… then scared the hell out of everyone at the table when his lips lifted in a smile. Toya never smiled. “I think we need to go to school tomorrow.”

      â€œHere, you want your pizza back?” Shinbe dropped the piece he’d just taken a bite out of then smacked Kotaro’s hand, making him drop his stolen piece back into the box as well. He slowly slid it across the table till it was in front of Toya.

      â€œYou could’ve just fought us for it instead of wigging everyone out with that creepy smile,” Kotaro complained.

      â€œI don’t think he was joking,” Shinbe said as he locked his amethyst eyes with Toya’s overly large golden ones. He leaned back in his chair now that everyone was paying attention. Seeing the dazed look trying to creep back into Toya’s eyes he sighed. “And why would we want to suddenly join the freaks down at Hormones Are Us high school?”

      â€œBecause, the girl that just moved in across the street is starting there tomorrow.” Toya’s breathing was a little ragged now that he’d finally said it out loud.

      When several chairs scooted back from the table, Kyou slammed his palms down on the tabletop with a rattling thump. “Sit! Down!” It was like hitting the pause button on the TV then very slowly rewinding it. Once everyone had obeyed, he turned back to Toya. “Tell us what you are talking about.”

      â€œShe’s alone… she’s her.” Toya rubbed his temple even though he knew guardians couldn’t get headaches. “Kyoko… She was talking to the pitcher above the fireplace. That’s how I know she’ll be starting school tomorrow.”

      â€œWhat’s she like?” Kamui asked getting the same look in his eyes that had haunted Toya’s only a moment before.

      â€œI didn’t talk to her,” Toya admitted then his shoulders dropped an inch. “I couldn’t, but she was dressed like they do at those boarding schools.”

      â€œWe can find out where she’s been if her records have already been transferred to the local school,” Kotaro added helpfully.

      â€œOn it,” Kamui fearlessly snatched Kyou’s laptop. He knew a backdoor into the school system’s database because he checked all the surrounding schools regularly for signs of anyone who came and went around the age of Kyoko or Tama.

      â€œYou’re sure it’s her?” Kyou asked Toya as he leaned forward in his chair.

      â€œWe would have known her on sight. Kyoko looks like the maiden statue… but alive.” Toya closed his eyes savoring the fact that so far he was the only one who had seen her. If he tapped into the part of him that was Tadamichi… then he could even remember what she tasted like. If the other guardians knew his secret, they would have been jealous. “Emerald green eyes, auburn hair but she seemed fragile… like she’s still a little girl.”

      â€œI’ll say,” Kamui agreed as his eyes widened on the screen. “Her records indicate she’s been living at an all-girls school in the middle of nowhere-land since she was three years old. Kyoko Hogo, age 17. All the information is here and I even have her class schedule for tomorrow.” He frowned thoughtfully, “But I don’t see anything about her brother starting the school with her.”

      Toya shook his head. “I know we’d hoped they were somewhere safe together but Tama was never with her. She’s completely alone over there. Remind me again why we can’t just tell her who we are.” He already knew the answer, it was just bugging the hell out of him because he wanted to tell her.

      Kamui glanced up from the laptop as he answered first. “We have taken this vote before. Anyone in their right mind would just call the police on us if we told them who we really are. She’s human Toya… with no idea of anything to do with being a priestess. We have to be careful.”

      Shinbe chimed in, “Besides, the last thing we need or want are the feds snooping around because the cops are investigating us for stalking the girl next door. And if the demons find out the priestess is back, they will probably stir up quite a few messes that will have the feds back in the area anyway. It will be dangerous